San Lorenzo River Trail Run
Santa Cruz, CA
- 50K, Marathon, 30K, Half Marathon, 10K, Kids Run
- Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
Run through 300 foot tall, 1500 year-old Coastal Redwoods, lush stream canyons, open meadows, pine and oak forests, and high dry chaparral-covered ridges. The Half Marathon, 30K, Marathon, and 50K events cross the San Lorenzo River multiple times! (Distances are accurately measured using a Rolatape® surveyor’s measuring wheel.) Time Limit … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jul 11):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 70 | 78 | 72 | 71 | 69 |
| L (°F) | 54 | 56 | 51 | 54 | 55 |
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Tough race for me. Elevation gain 2000ft
I'm an amature runner. On my experience running the half marathon: 1. Training is very important. I did train also on some elevation, but the elevation on the trail had … MORE
I’m an amature runner. On my experience running the half marathon:
1. Training is very important. I did train also on some elevation, but the elevation on the trail had me decided to reserve my energy. So, I’m very slow on uphill.
2. The river part is fun! I brought extra light shoes for crossing the river, so my running shoes will not get wet and it would be easier for me to run.
3. Trail is well marked with colored ribbons.
4. They have good snacks at around 6 miles. Bring your hydration drinks.
5. The view is beautiful, the river, tall trees, oh and there is also a bridge on the side. I enjoyed the view and took pictures.
6. Near finish line is downhill, which is good for me!
Good Trail Race
This was my first trail race and while it was a bit challenging it was a really nice course. The river was knee deep and felt good going through it. … MORE
This was my first trail race and while it was a bit challenging it was a really nice course. The river was knee deep and felt good going through it. Nice scenery, would highly recommend it.
Redwood Forest Experience!
Event & Course Description: Coastal Trail Run's San Lorenzo River Trail Run started and finished in Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz, CA. It featured 5 distances, 10K, half marathon, … MORE
Event & Course Description: Coastal Trail Run’s San Lorenzo River Trail Run started and finished in Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz, CA. It featured 5 distances, 10K, half marathon, 30K, marathon, and 50K. I did the 10K. The 10K and half marathon courses were out-and-back, the 10K turning around where the course crosses State Highway 9, and the half continuing to the north entry area of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (near Roaring Camp Railroads) in Felton, where it turned around. The half marathon course included a rope crossing (twice, of course) of the San Lorenzo River. The marathon did the half marathon course twice; the 30K did the half marathon, with an additional 5 mile loop at the half marathon turn around. The 50K does the 30K and then does the half marathon course again. Coastal’s map makes this more clear than do my words.
Other than a brief circle around Harvey West Park, the 10K course is entirely dirt trail, much of it single track. I’d estimate it was 70%-75% shade and the weather in 2017 was perfect, upper 50s-lower 60s, though a bit humid (the previous weekend was 15-20 degrees warmer!). The first mile or so was about 500 feet of climb, followed by a couple of miles of small rolling hills, a short, not steep downhill, and then back.
Harvey West Park is very pretty, set in a light industrial area. There is lots of street parking near the start area (I parked 20 or 30 yards away). After circling the park to spread people out, the trail quickly climbed through a madrone forest area. Just before leveling out, there was a space of open grasses and shrubs with pleasant panoramas. Then runners entered a redwood forest for about 2 – 2 1/2 miles of big trees. My words really can’t suffice to describe how beautiful and peaceful this redwood forest was and is. San Lorenzo River was one of the nicest forest trail experiences I’ve had in the past few years of doing trail races.
Organization & Production: As always, Coastal Trail Runs’ organization was excellent. The information on the website was very complete. My first sight of the race itself was when I was driving on Highway 9 to the race, where I went through where runners would be crossing. There were signs on the highway warning drivers that runners would be crossing the highway. Check-in was quick (race day only), as usual. Coastal races are chip timed, from the “gun” start. So fast runners who care about the 5 or 10 seconds it takes for the whole pack to cross the start line should position themselves at the front.
The course marking was excellent, with no points of confusion, even during the return leg after a couple hundred runners had run through the course 2 or 3 times. One exception to the website information is that it says there would be no aid on the 10K course, but there was a table at the 10K turn around with water, sports drink, and a very encouraging volunteer – no snacks, as other aid stations probably had, but all very welcome after 3+ miles. Coastal doesn’t do mile markers, so be familiar with the map.
Swag & Goodies: The finish area had lots of sweet and salty snacks – chips, cookies, candies, bagels, and fruit. There was also an ice chest with iced water and sodas.
Bib: Coastal’s bibs are plain – white background, distance-coded bib number, logos at the top, and, “Have fun out there,” along the bottom. Functional, not fancy.
T-Shirt: Coastal does tech T-shirts for all distances. I saw two colors, red and black. Mine is black, with the race logo in a gray oval in front and sponsors’ logos in back. It probably won’t be one of my favorites, but people’s tastes differ.
Finisher’s Medal: The medallion is rectangular, with a silver brushed metal finish and a raised rim. A blue abstract river flows across the center, with the name of the race across the top and the distances across the bottom. The organizer’s name is on the back. The ribbon is green, with the year in purple.
My Results & Opinion of the Race: Coastal Trail Runs is a really excellent organizer of low cost trail runs in really beautiful locations. San Lorenzo River was my fifth CTR race this year, so “low cost” does NOT mean cheesily or poorly done. Quite the opposite! I am considering doing other Coastal races in 2017.
I probably could have pushed myself harder, especially on the flatter and gently downhill parts of the course and maybe shaved 5 or 10 minutes off my finish time, but I don’t know if I would have enjoyed this race as much as I did. This was a really beautiful 10K course, and I’d love to work up to being able to do the half marathon (which looks pretty challenging). Whatever the state of my abilities, I will consider doing this race again next year.